Prepare for unexpected vet bills
A Border Sheepdog is a fairly new breed that is a mix of a Border Collie and a Shetland Sheepdog. You may already be thinking that those two breeds are very similar and you are right! Both have comparable backgrounds as athletic, quick work dogs that love to run and herd. It makes sense that these traits are found in the Border Sheepdog breed as well. So what do Border Sheepdogs like to do for fun? Let's find out!
Border Collies are working, herding dogs that originally were trained to herd flocks of sheep. Shetland Sheepdogs were also bred as herders and were also trained to corral sheep. So, guess what that means for your Border Sheepdog? They love to herd! Now, not many people have a flock of sheep readily available for their pup to herd but you can definitely play this modern herding game with your pup. Guiding balls toward a goal will help your Border Sheepdog utilize their herding instinct, get some exercise and also use their brain as they follow your every command. A perfect game for this herding pup!
Border Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs are very active breeds so it is natural that when they are combined, you get a very energetic pup. You are probably well aware of your Border Sheepdog's ability to go, go, go! While your dog would likely be happy to simply run all day freely, why not make exercise a little more challenging for them? Agility courses are the perfect way to do this. Agility training can be done on a variety of levels from beginners just looking to have fun to those who want to compete and enter their Border Sheepdog into contests. Whichever describes you, agility training is fantastic on any level for a Border Sheepdog.Â
Border Sheepdogs are naturally athletic and are always ready to run, jump and play. Playing fetch with your dog has probably become a standard daily activity which is fantastic but can also become a little mundane. After all, who wants to throw and catch a ball over and over and over….well, your dog probably loves it but it may get tedious for you! Why not try a new version of fetch? These twists on the classic game Border Sheepdogs love will entertain you and your pup in new ways while sticking to that fun base game. Time to get your dog running and exercising in a new way!
Find a lure coursing center near you and bring your Border Sheepdog. There, they will be able to chase a mechanical "lure" as it darts around an open field, zig zagging just like real prey. Your herding dog will love this!
Bring your Border Sheepdog around other dogs from a young age to make sure they are well socialized. This breed can be aggressive if not trained early but once they are accustom to other pups, they will be the life of the party!
Border Sheepdogs certainly are a lot of work. They need a good deal of physical exercise everyday and they also just love attention! However, all that energy and playfulness also means that this breed is a whole lot of fun. Who wants a dog that just sits around all day anyway? Enjoy life with your Border Sheepdog and keep them running and happy! Oh, and don't forget to cuddle that big shaggy pup every night - even active dogs love to snuggle.